Boterismo
Fernando Botero
It was our last few days in Colombia. My boyfriend and I traveled there to visit his family in the coastal city of Barranquilla. Since we both are slightly obsessed with the Netflix series, Narcos and the true stories of Pablo Escobar, we decided to end our Colombian trip in Medellin. The city of Eternal Spring, but also the city of immense pain caused by years of cartel bloodshed. One thing I did discover during our short time in Medellin was that it is also the city of Botero. I have often seen the hefty iconic images of women, men, Jesus, horses, and even plump fruit, but I never knew Botero was from Colombia. Lucky for us, we had an opportunity to visit the Museo de Antioquia in the heart of the majestic city of Medellin.
Fernando Botero Angulo was born on April 19 1932, in Medellin, the second-largest city in Colombia. He is a world-renowned figurative artist and sculptor with a signature style known as “Boterismo.” His style depicts people and figures in large, exaggerated volumes, representing political criticism or humor, depending on the piece.
He is considered the most recognized and quoted living artist from Latin America and is “the most Colombian of Colombian artists,” as he claimed for himself.
His subject matter ranges in such depictions as daily life in Colombia, art historical references like the Mona Lisa and Pablo Escobar, and abuses of power—all unified by Botero’s exaggeratedly rotund figures. “An artist is attracted to certain kinds of form without knowing why,” he reflected. “You adopt a position intuitively, only later do you attempt to rationalize or even justify it.”
Initially schooled as a matador, as bullfighting was a popular sport in Colombia during his youth, now, banned in the country. He abandoned the profession after two years to pursue art and decided to go to Europe in the early 1950s. There he was inspired by the great works of Francisco de Goya and Diego Velázquez at the Prado Museum in Madrid and studied the paintings of Paolo Uccello and Piero della Francesca in Italy. Botero made his international mark when he won the first prize at the Salón de Artistas Colombianos in 1958. In 1960, he moved to New York and by the 1970s Botero had settled into the technique for which he is now known. Moving to Paris in 1973, he began creating sculptures that achieved international recognition with worldwide exhibitions.
In 2012, he received the International Sculpture Center’s Lifetime Achievement in Contemporary Sculpture Award. His works are presently held in the collections of The Museum of Modern Art in New York, the Art Institute of Chicago, and the Museo Botero in Bogotá, which is dedicated to the artist and his oeuvre as well as the Museo de Antioquia in Medellin.
There needed to be more than just spending a few hours at the Museo de Antioquia to dive into Botero’s rich history. Visiting the museum kept me wanting to know more, see more and understand more.
A few things I admired about this beautiful museum was its atrium-style architecture. The art lives on multiple levels of the museum, and you get to experience his paintings and sculptures, both in the museum and out on the plaza. There was something extraordinary about being able to touch the sculptures that were out in the plaza. As if they were living, breathing beings participating in a pleasant stroll along the historic plaza in Medellin.
I find myself wanting to learn more about Botero because I feel connected to his art, not just because he is a phenomenal artist with a fascinating history from a county I love, but also because he gets the human form. I don’t see obese people in his art; I see aspects of myself. The curves, the rolls, the steadiness and confidence of being human is what he embodies most in his paintings. He paints without apologies which, in essence, helps me not apologize so much about my bodily bulges here and there. His art helps me stand tall and be proud of who I am and where I come from, like he is of his own Colombian origin.
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Inspired Me
“The app inspired an artistic part of me that’s always been there but hasn’t been tapped into for quite some time.”
Challenges Snobbish Ideals
“This innovative use of technology challenges the snobbish idea that only the rich can afford great art by helping anyone learn how to confidently and affordably bring the power of beauty into their lives.”
Discover Yourself
“It’s fun. It helps you discover something about yourself and gives you an idea of what speaks to you.”
Ready to Plan A Visit?
In the heart of Medellin, Colombia, the downtown area of El Centro, you will find the Museo de Antioquia, a grand building that overlooks Plaza Botero. The museum offers a unique insight into Medellín’s role in its story of the history of Colombia and Antioquia.
The museum was first founded in 1881 at a different location in Medellín. By 1997, the museum was in debt and had very few visitors. After trying to purchase pieces by Medellín-born artist Fernando Botero, Botero promised that he would make a donation if the museum could improve. These donations include the now sculpture, painting, and drawing rooms.
Currently, there are more than 100 works by Fernando Botero in Museo de Antioquia.
Address: Calle 52 #43
Opening hours: 10 am – 5.30 pm Monday to Saturday, 10 am – 4.30 pm Sundays
Local Hotels & Restaurants
While visiting Museo de Antioquia, check out these great restaurants and hotel:
- Restaurante Herbario
fusion wine bar and restaurant. - La Gracia Al Museo
a healthy eating hotspot
- Cafe Botero outdoor seating in the Plaza.
Stay at the:
Mandala Hotel Botero many rooms have views of the plaza.
Boterismo with Fernando Botero
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